Cong holds protest march against 'governance failure' in Goa

The Congress in Goa Wednesday took out a march here in protest against the "failure" of the Manohar Parrikar-led coalition government on "all fronts".

The party also demanded the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi issue a medical bulletin on the health status of the chief minister, 62, who remains admitted there for a pancreatic ailment since September 15.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of Congress leaders met Governor Mridula Sinha and sought her directions to the state DGP and chief secretary to probe the Congress' complaint against Parrikar and his predecessor Laxmikant Parsekar for "their alleged role in the illegal renewal" of the iron ore mining leases.

Hundreds of party workers walked on the busy D B Bandodkar road this afternoon and shouted slogans against the Parrikar government. They later gathered at the Azad Maidan where the party leaders addressed them.

During their meeting with the governor, the Congress reiterated several demands including issuance of a health bulletin on Parrikar's condition.

"The state government has miserably failed to fulfill the promises made to the people. Several issues are hanging fire and the people are being given hollow promises," Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after meeting the governor.

"The state government is almost non-existent. We urged the governor to direct officers to restore normalcy in the state administration," he said.

He alleged various parties that are part of the ruling coalition are behaving as per their whims, which has seriously affected governance.

"Properties belonging to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) are being sold to private parties at throwaway prices. We have sought intervention of the governor in this regard," Kavlekar said.

He said, "the government is saying that the CM's health is improving. If that is so then why there is a failure of governance?"